Man sentenced for interfering with U.S. marshal’s work

A convicted mail thief was sentenced Friday in federal court for forcibly interfering with a deputy U.S. marshal’s duties.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Roseanna Malouf sentenced Tony Lawrence Gust, 33, to 24 months in prison followed by three years of court supervision.

Gust was originally arrested in January 2011 after surveillance video showed him breaking into post office boxes at the Opportunity office. He served six months in jail on that charge after violating probation.

On July 20, two deputy U.S. marshals went to Gust’s home to serve an arrest warrant. When they identified themselves, Gust said “ ‘I’m not going back to jail, not today,’ ” according to authorities.

He refused to obey their commands to put down a rifle. After about 20 minutes, one deputy deployed his stun gun and another disarmed and arrested him.

Gust pleaded guilty Sept. 20.